American/Russian synth rock band Neon Black Dreams take us on a journey through time with a sound that fuses synthwave with elements of rock and metal, which they describe as “melodic, cinematic and powerful.”
The trio began with a shared vision to, in their words: “Craft music that not only sounds powerful but tells a deep, immersive story. The idea came from wanting to hear film soundtrack music like John Carpenter or Claudio Simonetti, but with vocals.” It started out with American keys and synths player and backing vocalist JJ, aka Neon, who has a classical music education and experience in sound engineering, who joined forces with Russian guitarist Roman, who performs under the pseudonym The Dreamer. But the band was completed last year with the addition of Russian vocalist Marina, aka Ms. Black.
On the nostalgic sound they’ve honed, Roman told us: “Imagine if Depeche Mode, Journey, and Helloween joined forces to craft anthems for a dystopian sci-fi film. That’s the Neon Black Dreams sound—haunting yet hopeful, nostalgic yet futuristic. We fuse the neon-drenched vibes of synthwave with the intensity of rock and metal, adding cinematic depth through storytelling and atmosphere.”
Our latest taste of this is Quest, which was released at the end of last month and is the fourth in a series of 11 songs. It opens up with a little synth line over plodding guitar, which drops into stabbing guitar chords supporting Marina’s engaging vocals. It flows into a pre-chorus that feeds into the catchy chorus “I’m searching for life, Searching for love, Dreams fly away like a dove” with cool little stabbing synth sounds throughout. Second time around the chorus gives way to a cool guitar solo, which sets up a big atmospheric conclusion.
On the track, Roman told us: “The reception has been incredible! Quest is one of our most ambitious tracks yet, and fans have connected deeply with its themes of perseverance and self-discovery. It’s a track that blends soaring vocals, electrifying synths, and raw guitars, creating an epic and emotional soundscape. For anyone who hasn’t heard Quest yet—expect a sonic adventure. It’s about the battles we face, both external and internal, and the drive to keep moving forward no matter what as long as we believe.”
Quest follows on from a series of singles released last year, including the increasingly intense After The Bomb and the fast-paced Wastelands, which features more funky synths alongside Marina’s delicious vocals. And if you like that, then there’s plenty more on their slightly more poppy/synthy 2022 debut album Kiss Of The Universe.
The Neon Black Dreams sound has been influenced by wide range of artists and genres, including the likes of Depeche Mode, Megadeth, Evanescence, The Midnight and John Carpenter.
And on what inspires them to write music, Roman told us: “Our music is heavily influenced by storytelling, emotional depth, and the fusion of past and future. We explore themes of survival, redemption, love, and the resilience of the human spirit—often through the lens of a post-apocalyptic world, as seen in our After the Bomb series. We’re also inspired by the concept of alternate timelines, the feeling of being trapped between past and future, and the eternal search for meaning in a chaotic world.”
There’s plenty more to come from Neon Black Dreams, who have new music and new chapters to add to their After The Bomb story. They’ll be releasing a new song every six weeks or so throughout the yar and looking to play live performances to bring their neon-lit world to the stage like never before.
And Roman added: “We’re also diving deeper into visual storytelling—expect more cinematic music videos and immersive experiences that expand on the Neon Black Dreams universe.
“Neon Black Dreams isn’t just about music—it’s about the experience, the emotion, and the journey. We invite listeners to step into our world, whether it’s through our songs, our live shows, or our evolving storyline. If you love synths, guitars, and powerful storytelling, we’re here to take you on a ride through the neon-lit shadows of the future.”
You can follow Neon Black Dreams on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and YouTube.
Listen to Neon Black Dreams and more new music on our Spotify playlists GigRadar Electro and GigRadar Rock
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